The Sikh Dharam's founder, Guru Nanak, was born in 1469. Guru Nanak spread a simple message of "ੴ" - We are all one, created by the One, the Creator of all Creation. He aligned with no religion. He expressed the reality that there is one God and many paths, and the Name of God is Truth, "Sat Nam". Guru Nanak laid the foundation, infused his own consciousness into a disciple, who then became Guru, subsequently passing the light on to the next and finally to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the Khalsa.

Reading that, I'm not sure who to support in this case...it's just a really muddy situation, but I can definitely see the concerns on both sides. I think I'm leaning slightly towards the British POV on this issue.

This is a charity tv station. These guys don't have backgrounds in journalism or media. I bet they were trying to emulate panels like the big boy news do, so they grabbed a bunch of community members, who just fed off each other's energy. Due to respect for the panelists, poor panelist selection, inexperience, and ignorance of their responsibilities, they messed up.

I think the British may be doing it for their own reasons...the news report mentioned Muslims who praised jihadist attacks. Even though it's nowhere NEAR the same thing, many Brits seem to think so, and they think that this Sikh fundamentalism may be the same as Islamic (the similar appearance stereotype doesn't help). This fine helps to calm down those who may be thinking all Sikhs are extremists.

This fine helps to calm down those who may be thinking all Sikhs are extremists.

I don't know about it calming people down. I'd imagine that larger punishments create the perception of a bigger problem.

If I hear a television station caused some trouble and were fined five thousand dollars, I'll probably think, "eh, minor disturbance. Whatever." If I hear you were fined fifty thousand, I'll probably think, "Whoa! What did they do? Must have been something serious!"

I dunno though, I think a lot of Brits may be thinking that those on the panel okaying this attack were just a Sikh version of Muslim al Qaeda apologists, which really isn't the case, but may be to the unaware eye. I just hope British Sikhs don't face any major backlash, like they may possibly experience in the US in such a case.

EDIT: Of course, my sample selection is extremely pathetic, considering I'm basing my opinion off of the commentary on the Internet on the issue, so that must be kept in mind too. It would be great if the typical Brit doesn't generalize the case to be something it's not.